2027: Sule names Ombugadu as Wadada’s running mate

LAFIA — Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State has announced Emmanuel Michael Ombugadu as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state ahead of the 2027 general election.

Sule announced the decision after an APC stakeholders’ meeting held at the Governor’s Lodge in Abuja on Monday.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, the governor said the choice followed consultations among aspirants who had expressed interest in the position.

He said the aspirants had agreed to support whoever emerged, in line with the approach adopted by the party in selecting its governorship candidate.

“We had a couple of people eminently qualified, and every one of them made a decision similar to what we did with the gubernatorial election, that whoever is selected among them, they would all rally and support that person.

“So at the end of the decision, it was agreed that Honourable Emmanuel Ombugadu will be our deputy gubernatorial candidate of the party,” Sule said.

The governor commended party stakeholders for attending the meeting despite the short notice, explaining that the venue was moved to Abuja because of his official engagements, including the North Central Development Commission summit where he served as Chief Host.

He also cited his scheduled departure for the United Nations General Assembly session in New York.

Sule urged APC members to remain united ahead of the 2027 general election, stressing the need for the party to approach the polls as a united force.

“We cannot go into these elections divided. That is the reason we invited this meeting, so that we can keep together, make a decision together, and go together,” he said.

Also speaking, the APC governorship candidate, Senator Ahmed Aliyu Wadada, expressed satisfaction with the choice of Ombugadu as his running mate, saying the decision reflected the position of the party leadership and zoning considerations.

“I feel happy, I feel committed, and of course fulfilled to have him as my deputy gubernatorial candidate, because it is the decision of the party and the leadership,” Wadada said.

He appealed to other aspirants who had sought the position to accept the outcome in the interest of party unity.

“I call on all others too, particularly my brother Dr Kigbu, who everybody thought would get it, to accept this as the will of God. Together we shall weather the storm,” he said.

In his response, Ombugadu thanked Sule and other party stakeholders for the confidence reposed in him, describing the decision as difficult but necessary for the cohesion of the party.

“I feel highly elated, and I take it as the will of God for me to be in this capacity. I thank the Governor and all the stakeholders of the state for this very critical decision,” he said.

Ombugadu acknowledged that some of his colleagues who also aspired to be selected had been aggrieved by the outcome, but said they had pledged their loyalty to the party.